Method of improving airline luggage inspection

ABSTRACT

Method of making airline luggage inspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler comprises making a special lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having a combination lock portion and a master key lock, the master key lock portion receiving a master key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type. The special lock is designed to be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage and has indicia conveying to luggage purchasers that the special lock is “approved” by a luggage screening authority and conveying to the luggage screening authority that the special lock can be opened using the master key. The method includes providing the luggage screening authority directly or indirectly with exclusive access to the master key. The manufacturers and/or providers of the master key and special lock retain copies of the master key.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is methods of improving airline luggageinspection, and more particularly, methods of making such inspectionless intrusive and more secure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Due to the threat of terrorism, in the weeks prior to Jan. 1, 2003, theTransportation Security Administration (“TSA”), a division of the UnitedStates Department of Homeland Security, announced that with respect toluggage at United States airports if a TSA baggage screener was unableto open a traveler's bag for inspection because the bag was locked, thescreener would have to break the locks on the traveler's bag. Hence,passengers should leave their bags unlocked, according to the TSA.Beginning Jan. 1, 2003 the TSA's federal workers started screeningluggage at U.S. airports and when it deemed it necessary it startedclipping locks on this luggage in order to open and inspect the luggage.

Since by definition airport luggage screening occurs outside thepresence of the passengers whose luggage is being inspected, it isimpossible or at least impractical for airport luggage screeningpersonnel to make use of combinations to open combination locks onairport luggage. Nonetheless, passengers may desire to use combinationlocks to avoid worrying about loss of a key or finding the key.

Although arguably necessary for security, the method of screeningluggage that includes opening the passenger's luggage in a manner thatleaves the luggage “unlockable” after the inspection process, forexample by clipping the heretofore workable lock, suffers from severaldrawbacks. First, the passenger's belongings have been damaged eitherbecause the lock has been clipped or because the luggage has been openedforcibly or both. This causes monetary damage, it also causesaggravation. Second, a new security hazard is generated since thepassenger gets back a piece of luggage with a broken or removed lock.This means that during the remainder of the passenger's trip his or herluggage is not secure and can be tampered with. The remainder of thetrip may even include further domestic flights. Furthermore, iftravelers consistently have their locks broken, travelers will see novalue in using locks when traveling, thereby exposing their unlockedluggage to a constant risk of tampering.

One should not assume that security risks exist only among passengers.Terrorists have tried in the past and may try in the future tocompromise the workers at the airports who inspect luggage. Accordingly,the no longer secure piece of luggage is subject to the risk that aterrorist or other dangerous person who is within the area of theairport luggage screening personnel—because he is a worker or because hepenetrated the secure area—can insert a bomb or other hazardous materialinto the luggage by easily opening it since it not only does not have alock anymore but its outward appearance, i.e. a damaged lock, mayadvertise that it has been tampered with and be easily opened.

Furthermore, the sale of padlocks plummeted after the TSA began thepractice of clipping locks. Another thing that happened was that thenumber of claims for theft and damage allegedly caused, by thegovernment and/or airline personnel to passengers' luggage increasedsignificantly since Jan. 1, 2003.

Another problem is that passengers are concerned about theft of thecontents of their bags without the protection of locks (after theirlocks have been rendered useless by the luggage screening authorities)

Travelers understand and support the federal government's initiatives tothwart terrorism. This support of security regulations and procedures onthe part of travelers is critical to their implementation and success.However, travelers, just getting accustomed to the new security laws,may have legitimate concerns about baggage inspections. It is crucialthat the government or appropriate authorities act to diminishtravelers' concerns in this regard.

In addition, working as a TSA luggage screener is a highly demanding andstressful job. Therefore, anything that reduces the physical strainwould be highly appreciated by the screeners.

It should be born in mind that the number of airline travelers who passthrough airports in the United States in a given year is close to half abillion. Thus, these concerns affect a great many individuals.

Accordingly, there is a compelling and immediate need for a method ofinspecting luggage at airports that does not create a security risk andthat is not damaging or aggravating to the passengers.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention presents a method of making airline luggageinspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler includesa first step of making a special lock available to airline travelers,the special lock having a combination lock portion and a master keylock, the master key lock portion for receiving a master key that canopen the master key lock portion of any special lock of this type. Thespecial lock is designed to be applied to an individual piece of airlineluggage and has an indicia thereon conveying to luggage purchasers thatthe special lock is “approved” by a luggage screening authority andconveying to the luggage screening authority that the special lock canbe opened using the master key. Then providing the luggage screeningauthority with exclusive access to the master key. The manufacturersand/or providers of the master key and special lock retain copies of themaster key. In accordance with the method of the present invention,therefore, the luggage screening authority need not clip or otherwisebreak open locks to inspect luggage, nor do they have to break into theluggage in some other manner. The workers need only be told that masterkeys are available to open locks that have the indicia on them.

IMPORTANT OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The following important objects and advantages of the present inventionare:

(1) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports that avoidsforcible opening of the luggage;

(2) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports that employsspecial locks that remain viable after being subjected to airportluggage screening and inspection;

(3) to provide a method of non-intrusively searching passenger's luggageat airports;

(4) to provide a method of screening luggage that uses a master keyexclusively maintained by the luggage screening authority;

(5) to provide a method of improving luggage screening at airports thatavoids the need for clipping the locks on passenger luggage;

(6) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports that eliminatesa potential security threat of tampering with broken-into luggage orluggage whose locks have been broken;

(7) to provide a method of luggage screening that reduces the costs ofthe luggage screening authority;

(8) to provide a method of luggage screening that eliminates the needfor lock clippers;

(9) to provide a luggage screening method that reduces injuries toluggage screeners that may arise from clipping locks;

(10) to provide an improved method of luggage screening at airports thatrequires essentially no new training;

(11) to provide a method of airport luggage screening that reduces theliability to the luggage screening authority;

(12) to provide an improved method of luggage screening that would notinterfere with current policy of the luggage screening authority in thatluggage locks could still be clipped if they did not display the indiciaconveying that were “TSA approved” or authorized;

(13) to provide a luggage screening method that decreases the labor ofluggage screeners in that opening the special lock of the method of thepresent invention requires less manual labor than breaking locks;

(14) to provide a method of luggage screening that provides a publicrelations benefit to the TSA or luggage screening authority in thattravelers will appreciate the TSA or luggage screening authority'sconcern for their personal property, an important benefit for newagency;

(15) to provide a method of airport luggage screening that allows theluggage screening authority to get its work done more efficiently;

(16) to provide a method of airport luggage screening that allows athorough search of the passenger's luggage while at the same timeproviding a less intrusive and more comfortable search to the passenger;

(17) to provide a method of screening luggage at airports thateliminates the danger of tampering with luggage that has been brokeninto subsequent to the screening process; and

(18) to provide a method that eliminates the need to break into theluggage at a point other than its lock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the special lock usedin the method of the present invention in open position modified to showa key hole for a master key on the bottom.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the special lockused in the method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the special lockused in the method of the present invention modified to show a key holefor a master key on the bottom.

FIG. 4 shows the special lock depicted in FIG. 1 in closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The method of the present invention includes the step of making aspecial lock available to airline travelers, the special lock having acombination lock portion and having a master key lock, the master keylock portion for receiving a master key that can open the master keylock portion of any special lock of this type, the special lock designedto be applied to an individual piece of airline luggage. The speciallock also has indicia thereon conveying to luggage purchasers and to theluggage screening authority that the special lock is a lock that theluggage screening authority has agreed not to break. The indicia canstate, for example, that the special lock is “approved”, “accepted” or“authorized” by the luggage screening authority. The term “indicia” is abroad term and can include the special lock having a distinctivephysical characteristic such shape, texture, weight and/or othercharacteristic that makes it instantly recognizable by individualsworking for the luggage screening authority who are specifically forthat characteristic. Alternatively, a distinctive chemical or electroniccharacteristic can be used—in short any distinctive characteristic thatcan be instantly recognized by persons looking for it.

The phrase “any special lock of this type” is intended to includespecial locks having a multiplicity of sub-types such as differentsizes, different manufacturing designs or styles, etc.

Besides making the special lock more valuable to prospective luggagepurchasers or lock purchasers, such indicia also tells the luggagescreening authority that the special lock can be opened by the luggagescreening authority using the master key and that the special lock isamong those locks that the luggage screening authority agrees not tobreak in order to inspect the luggage. The phrase “approved”, “accepted”or “authorized” is a broad phrase intended to include other words orterms that signify that the luggage screening authority agrees thatlocks having such indicia will not be broken into.

The method of the present invention also includes the step of providingthe luggage screening authority, directly or indirectly, with access tothe master key. This step includes providing such access with the helpof or in conjunction with another business entity, i.e. a third party.The access is to be exclusive except that one or more of the followingentities may retain copies of the master key: the manufacturer of thespecial lock, since it may need to retool the special lock, the providerto the passengers of the special lock, which may or may not be the sameas the manufacturers, the manufacturer and/or the provider of the masterkey to the luggage screening authority. It is anticipated that themanufacturer of the special lock will also provide the master key butother possibilities are also contemplated by the present invention.

The step of providing access may be accomplished by delivering one ormore master keys to the luggage screening authority or by delivering oneor master keys to a company or organization whose responsibility it isto cause said one or more master keys to be delivered to the luggagescreening authority.

Access to the master key by the luggage screening authority includeshaving access to any appropriate number of such master keys by itsworkers or by any appropriate division of part of said luggage screeningauthority.

Although the present invention is a method of improving the inspectionof airline luggage, the method of the present invention makes use of anapparatus. This apparatus is a special lock. The special lock isillustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings. Consequently, thespecial lock used in the method of the present invention has beenassigned reference numeral 10 Other elements have been assigned thereference numerals referred to below.

Combination locks have certain advantages over locks with keys. For onething, there is no need to fear loss of the key. Hence, it isadvantageous to have combination locks on luggage used to fly with sinceflights tend to cause stress and stress can lead to loss of the key.Second, even if one has the key it takes time to retrieve it. If theluggage has to be opened suddenly then retrieval of the key is aninconvenience. Although combination locks require memorization of accessto the coded combination, this is usually considered better than a keylock on balance to many passengers. Hence, there is a need for a methodof improving luggage screening at airports that makes of a special lockthat includes a unique combination but that is nonetheless convenientand secure for the passengers and for the airport luggage screeningpersonnel.

As seen from FIGS. 1-4, special lock 10 includes a combination lockportion 20 having a unique combination and a master key lock. The masterkey lock portion is opened by a master key that is inserted in key hole30. Typically, although not necessarily, the key hole would beinconspicuously placed on the bottom of the special lock 10. Thecombination lock portion can be any kind of combination lock portionsuitable for use with a piece of luggage at an airport. The combinationcan be a front dial that is turned or several dials that are turned toset the combination.

Presently, the Transportation Security Administration, a division of theUnited States Department of Homeland Security has the task of screeningtravelers' luggage at airports. However, the term “luggage screeningauthority” is intended broadly to encompass both the TransportationSecurity Administration and any governmental entity or non-governmentalorganization whose task includes screening the luggage of travelers atairports in the United States or a non-governmental organization.Alternatively, the luggage screening authority can be a governmentalentity or non-governmental organization whose task includes screeningthe luggage of travelers at airports in Canada or another country.Furthermore, the luggage screening authority is also intended to broadlyinclude individual workers who screen luggage at airports and otherpersonnel of the TSA or of some other entity or organization whose taskit is to screen such luggage.

Thus, the master key allows the authorized agency's workers to have theability to open any of the luggage that the workers inspect in a mannerwithout clipping the lock. The indicia notifies the luggage screeningauthority which pieces of luggage has locks that lock the master keyopens and it notifying purchasers of the special lock of an added valueof the special lock. Market research exists to support the fact thatcustomers will spend significantly more on luggage if they know that itcomes with a lock that the luggage screening authorities such as the TSArecognize as being openable by their master key and without forciblyopening the luggage.

As seen in FIG. 2, the indicia 50 can take the form of a phrase“approved by the TSA” or any similar phrase or it can be anything elsethat conveys the approval, authority, acceptance etc. by the TSA orother relevant luggage screening authority. It should be understood thatalthough one example of the indicia appears in FIG. 2 only, the otherembodiments of the special lock used in the method of the presentinvention would also have the indicia.

It should be noted that with the use of the special lock by thetraveler, the traveler still selects a combination for the combinationlock portion of the special lock 10 and the traveler has thatcombination for the combination lock portion part of the special lock.Accordingly, the traveler still has a useful secure lock after passingairport security. In addition, the luggage screening authority stillmaintains an effective and quick way of accessing airport luggage forinspection whenever it deems doing so necessary.

It should be noted that the terms “master key” and “master key lockportion” are broad terms intended to also include electronic or othersensor mechanisms for opening up the master key lock portion in speciallock 10. Thus, the method of the present invention contemplates using incertain embodiments a special lock 10 that makes use of an electronicsensor instead of a traditional physical key even though such atraditional physical key is what is typically understood by the term“master key”. In such a case the locking mechanism inside special lock10 would not be a traditional master key lock mechanism but rather wouldbe a locking mechanism that is opened by an electronic sensor.

The present invention also contemplates that in certain embodimentsother lock mechanisms besides a traditional combination lock can be usedas one of the locks in special lock 10. Hence, in an alternativeembodiment, the method would employ a first lock portion instead of acombination lock portion in special lock 10. The first lock portion canbe any kind of locking mechanism useful for and easily accessible by thepassenger.

It is to be understood that while the method of this invention have beendescribed and illustrated in detail, the above-described embodiments aresimply illustrative of the principles of the invention. It is to beunderstood also that various other modifications and changes may bedevised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles ofthe invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. It is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described. The spirit and scope of this invention are limitedonly by the spirit and scope of the following claims.

1. A method of improving airline luggage inspection by making suchinspection secure yet non-intrusive, comprising: making a special lockavailable to airline travelers, the special lock having a combinationlock portion and having a master key lock portion, the master key lockportion for receiving a master key that can open the master key lockportion of any special lock of this type, the special lock designed tobe applied to an individual piece of airline luggage, the special lockalso having a distinctive physical characteristic for conveying toluggage purchasers and to the luggage screening authority that thespecial lock is a lock that the luggage screening authority has agreednot to break, and providing the luggage screening authority, directly orindirectly, with an access to the master key, said access beingexclusive except for a manufacturer of said master key and/or a providerof the special lock to airline travelers and/or a provider of the masterkey to the luggage screening authority.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the master key lock portion includes a key hole on a bottom ofthe special lock that receives the master key.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein a step of making available to airline travelers a special lockinvolves mass producing the special lock and selling the special lock tothe airline travelers.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step ofmaking available to airline travelers a special lock having adistinctive physical characteristic involves making available a speciallock having a distinctive shape, texture and/or weight.
 5. A method ofimproving airline luggage inspection by making such inspection secureyet non-intrusive, comprising: making a special lock available toairline travelers, the special lock having a first lock portion and amaster key lock portion, the master key lock portion for receiving amaster key that can open the master key lock portion of any special lockof this type, the special lock designed to be applied to an individualpiece of airline luggage, the special lock also having a distinctivephysical characteristic conveying to luggage purchasers and to theluggage screening authority that the special lock is a lock that theluggage screening authority has agreed not to break, and providing theluggage screening authority, directly or indirectly, with an access tothe master key, said access being exclusive except for a manufacturer ofsaid master key and/or a provider of the special lock to airlinetravelers and/or a provider of the master key to the luggage screeningauthority.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of makingavailable to airline travelers a special lock having a distinctivephysical characteristic involves making available a special lock havinga distinctive shape, texture and/or weight.